Introduction

Introduction

Sepiolids are small (ca. 1-10 cm ML), broad cephalopods with a rounded posterior mantle and ear-like fins. Species of the Rossinae and Sepiolinae are benthic while those of the Heteroteuthinae are pelagic. The most distinctive group is the Heteroteuthinae in which the ventral mantle margin extends beneath the head, and the photophores are fused into a single large organ. All sepiolids, where known, lay large benthic eggs and the young hatch out at an advanced stage of development and their length may be one quarter of that of the adult female (Naef, 1921-23).